Biology 111 -fall 2014 Final Cumulative Exam

Using the appropriate following terms, accurately explain why "Clark", the five-day old calf from our case study, became sick.  In your explanation, make sure to also describe how he was treated, and why this treatment was successful.Possible Useful Terms: hypertonic, hypotonic, cerebral edema, blood vessel, brain matrix, diarrhea, 8-quarts of water, "free-water molecules", "bound-water molecules", osmotic balance, pressure, neuron firing rate, seizures.

In our case study exploring Progressive Retinal Atrophy, we determined that this disease was not a sex-linked trait, but rather an autosomal recessive trait.  What does this mean?  Which type of chromosomes is the faulty gene for this disease located?  (Note: try to answer both of these questions by explaining what the terms autosomal and recessive mean).

This fall semester in Biology 111 (Finding Things Out in Science) we explored a number of concepts through the use of "cases".  Cases are essentially learning stories that put the reader in a particular role, often to solve a particular problem or issue.  We covered the following cases this trimester:

1. Ebola Case Study (hypothesizing the reservoir host species of the Ebola virus)
2. Progressive Retinal Atrophy in a Sled Dog (learning about a genetic eye disease found in dogs)
3. Desiree's Baby (examining racism based on skin color and understanding the genetics of skin color)
4. Clark Case Study (a case that introduced us to a sick calf that was suffering from cerebral edema)
5. A Case of Ecstasy (a similar case to the Clark case where a sick woman has been brought to the ER suffering from hyponatremia/cerebral edema, due to drinking a lot of water along with taking the drug Ecstasy).

Out of all of these cases, which did you like the most?  Which did you think you learned the most from?  Do you think I should continue to use case studies in future biology courses at NWIC?

This was my first experience in teaching an introductory biology class at the NWIC.

1. What worked well for you and for your learning of the concepts we explored in this class?
2. What things should I change in how I approach teaching the class for the next time?
3. Is there a biological concept or issue that you think it would be important to cover in a class like this?

The thing that drives the diffusion of molecules are molecular collisions.

• A.

  True

• B.

  False

Why aren't viruses considered to be living?

• A.

  Viruses lack DNA or RNA.

• B.

  Viruses can't replicate on their own; they need to use cells in order to reproduce.

• C.

  Viruses aren't composed of cells.

• D.

  Both choice "B" and "C" are accurate.

Which animal is considered to be a likely host reservoir species for the Ebola virus?

• A.

  Chimpanzees

• B.

  Tree frogs

• C.

  Brown garter snakes

• D.

  Fruit bats

Which factors are essential for a host reservoir species of a virus (such as Ebola)?

• A.

  The virus must be able to successfully enter the host species' cells.

• B.

  The virus must be able to replicate in the host species' cells.

• C.

  The virus must be able to be "shed", which means passed from the host to another species.

• D.

  The virus must not kill the host species (at least not to a high degree).

• E.

  All of the above.

Diffusion is the net movement of molecules from an area of ______________________ to an area of ___________________ concentration.* (Place a comma to separate your two answers).

Water is a molecule that needs small pores (embedded in the membrane of a cell) to move by diffusion into a cell.  What are these small pores called?

• A.

  Aquaporins

• B.

  Apertures

• C.

  Orofices

• D.

  Water channels

Once molecules reach a dynamic equilibrium on either side of a membrane they stop moving.

• A.

  True

• B.

  False

The thing that drives the diffusion of molecules are molecular collisions.

• A.

  True

• B.

  False

What is a bacteriophage?

• A.

  A bacteria that infects human cells.

• B.

  A bacteria that infects viruses.

• C.

  A virus that infects bacteria.

• D.

  A fungal cell that infects bacteria.

Why are humans and gorillas not considered a reservoir host species for the Ebola virus?

• A.

  Ebola kills humans and gorillas.

• B.

  Humans and gorillas are mammals, and mammals can't act as a reservoir host species.

• C.

  Ebola can't replicate inside of humans and gorillas.

• D.

  Ebola can't be shed (transmitted) from humans or gorillas.

Why is the Ebola virus considered to be difficult to transmit from human to human?

• A.

  The Ebola virus is too small to pass easily from human to human.

• B.

  The Ebola virus needs to be passed through direct fluid contact (such as with blood or sweat).

• C.

  The Ebola virus must be breathed in when someone coughs or sneezes.

• D.

  The Ebola virus dies when it enters another person's cells.

Kate is performing an experiment where she gives different amounts of fertilizer to tomato plants and then measures their growth in centimeters over a period of 8 weeks.  What was the manipulated variable in this experiment?

• A.

  The growth of the tomato plants in centimeters

• B.

  The amount of time (8 weeks) that the tomato plants were exposed

• C.

  The amount of water the tomato plants recieved

• D.

  The amount of fertilizer given to the plants

Aaron is conducting an experiment on barnacles.  He decides to explore how differences in water flow (velocity) affects the cirri feeding rate per minute of the barnacles.  What was the responding variable in this experiment?

• A.

  The differences in water (flow) that the barnacles were exposed to

• B.

  The amount of light that the barnacles were exposed to

• C.

  The barnacle cirri feeding rate per minute

• D.

  The size of the barnacles

The brownish/orange circle is a cell and the white ring represents its membrane.  In which picture (A, B, or C) shows a hypertonic solution inside the cell, compared to a hypotonic solution outside the cell?  (Note: the green "dots" represent salt molecules). 

The brownish/orange circle is a cell and the white ring represents its membrane.  In which picture (A, B, or C) shows a isotonic solution inside and outside of the cell?  (Note: the green "dots" represent salt molecules). 

Homozygous refers to:A. The genes (alleles) are the same from both parents. (Such as AA or aa)B. The genes (alleles) are different. (Such as Aa)*Write same or different

The genotype represents the:A. Physical makeup (or trait) that the gene codes for.B. The genetic makeup (or specific genes/alleles) of the trait.*Type A or B.

What is an autosome?

• A.

  Any of the chromosomes that aren't the "sex" chromosomes.

• B.

  A type of gene.

• C.

  In humans, an autosome is the 23rd pair of chromosomes.

• D.

  The nucleus of a bacterial cell.

Is this karyotype showing a male or a female?

Why are chromosomes in pairs?

• A.

  They like each other.

• B.

  They double when you reach adulthood.

• C.

  They bond together at birth.

• D.

  You inherit sets of chromosomes, "one from mom and one from dad".

In the case study: "Desiree's Baby", we were introduced to a story of racism, partly based on the skin color of a child.  In the story the father essentially accuses his wife (and mother of their child) of possessing "genes for darkly pigment skin" or African-American ancestry.  What we learn is that both parents were probably carriers of genes for dark pigment.  What do you call a trait that is controlled by multiple genes?

• A.

  Autosomal dominant inheritance

• B.

  Polygenetic inheritance

• C.

  Sex-linked inheritance

• D.

  Autosomal recessive inheritance

In the PRA case study about the genetic disease that causes blindness in sled dogs we spent a lot of time talking about the retina of the eye.  What is the retina composed of?

• A.

  A. Muscle cells

• B.

  B. Rods and cone cells

• C.

  C. Modified neurons (modified brain cells)

• D.

  D. Both choices "B" and "C"

Which structure of the eye (in animals that are adapted to night vision) allows light that wasn't absorbed by the rods and cones to be reflected back onto the retina one more time?

• A.

  Tapetum lucidum

• B.

  Photoreceptors

• C.

  Pupil

• D.

  Cornea

Mendel crossed a Tall (homozygous plant) with a Short (homozygous plant).  "T" is dominant for tall.  "t" is recessive for short.  With this knowledge, design a Punnett Square like the one shown (do this on a separate sheet of paper), and cross these two plants.  Once you have done this, answer the following questions:Note: when answering these two questions, place a comma to separate your answers.1. What is the genotype (genetic makeup) of the offspring?  ___________________2. Are the offspring of these pea plants tall, short, or a combination?______________________